Response to the real Bruce.

Of course the phone will cost money. duh
My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.

If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
with enough minutes to carry on normally.

On 16/04/2021 13:21, Gary wrote:
> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>
T-Mobile sometimes has good offers, with unlimited talk and text. We use
them for our US phones. (An extra benefit for us, is unlimited texts
when we are in the UK, and reasonable roaming prices for calls.)

Also - you are often much better buying an unlocked phone, and going for
a SIM-only plan with your provider. That way, if you decide to change
providers, you only need to insert a new SIM, rather than get a new phone.

Check Amazon for unlocked phones - there's quite a range of prices. I
bought my current one there, a dual-SIM Nokia, for a very reasonable price.

You could consider using your wifi connection to talk with your mother
on something like Skype, if your phone plan offers limited minutes.

On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>
>
>
Spectrum is advertising $14.95 a month, unlimited calls.

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:48:36 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>
>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>
>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>
> Spectrum is advertising $14.95 a month, unlimited calls.

Spectrum is a cable company. They would only provide phone service
with a paid Internet or TV plan (at least in most states). Watch out
for those damned "bundles" in the fine print (and that only last for
12 months before they double the price).

And +$15 would be overpriced. VoIP phone plans almost always cap at
$10/mo. Vonage(tm) set that price point probably 15 years ago.
Nowadays you can even get VoIP "free"(*) if you purchase a $100
converter. You still need internet service on top of that, but so
do all the other VoIP services provided by Internet companies. The
"Bells" and AT&T are the ONLY companies that offer home phones
without having Internet service (and for $45/mo). They're robbing
seniors.

(*) https://www.ooma.com/home-phone/plans/

It's not really "free" since the States and Feds still require you
to pay monthly/yearly taxes on that "free stuff" - about
$3-$6/month.

Irony: You always have to pay taxes even on the free shit in "The
Land of the Free" (unless you're a church <grrrr>).

-sw

On 4/17/2021 12:22 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:48:36 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>>
>> Spectrum is advertising $14.95 a month, unlimited calls.
>
> Spectrum is a cable company. They would only provide phone service
> with a paid Internet or TV plan (at least in most states). Watch out
> for those damned "bundles" in the fine print (and that only last for
> 12 months before they double the price).
>

No, they are also a mobile phone company

https://www.spectrum.com/mobile

On 4/17/2021 9:39 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 4/17/2021 12:22 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:48:36 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
>>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>>
>>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd
>>>> phone.
>>>>
>>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>>>
>>> Spectrum is advertising $14.95 a month, unlimited calls.
>>
>> Spectrum is a cable company. They would only provide phone service
>> with a paid Internet or TV plan (at least in most states). Watch out
>> for those damned "bundles" in the fine print (and that only last for
>> 12 months before they double the price).
>>
>
> No, they are also a mobile phone company
>
> https://www.spectrum.com/mobile
>
You're required to be a spectrum cable subscriber in
order to use their mobile phone service.

On 4/17/2021 9:43 AM, Dr Bruce wrote:
> On 4/17/2021 9:39 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> On 4/17/2021 12:22 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:48:36 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
>>>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd
>>>>> phone.
>>>>>
>>>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>>>>
>>>> Spectrum is advertising $14.95 a month, unlimited calls.
>>>
>>> Spectrum is a cable company. They would only provide phone service
>>> with a paid Internet or TV plan (at least in most states). Watch out
>>> for those damned "bundles" in the fine print (and that only last for
>>> 12 months before they double the price).
>>>
>>
>> No, they are also a mobile phone company
>>
>> https://www.spectrum.com/mobile
>>
> You're required to be a spectrum cable subscriber in
> order to use their mobile phone service.
>

Show where it says that.

https://www.spectrum.com/mobile/plans

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:

> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.

You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).

-sw

On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>
>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>
>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>
> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).

Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
The internet access ended 5 months ago.
Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:32:37 -0400, Gary wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>
>> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
>> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
>> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."

Cox cable internet at your complex is 25Mbps is $30/mo (50Mbps is
$10 more). And you can do VoIP ("landline") for an extra $10 or
less.

-sw

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>
> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> > On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
> >
> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>
I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
get long distance included in that price?

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>
>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>
>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>
> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> get long distance included in that price?

If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
already hooked up in Gary's place.

He's been getting ripped off for an extra $35/mo x 15+ years. It
costs less to transmit 30 minutes of long distance phone
conversation than it does to stream your local 6:PM newscast over
your Internet connection (and both of those costs are $0). They use
the same conduits, except for Gary's copper phone lines the first
600 yards - which is already installed and working. Then it just
connects to the same SS7 networks as any other cell phone, VoIP, or
landline and whoosh! - off it goes at the same $0 price. The $10
pays for infrastructure only, and Gary's physical infrastructure is
literally 50-60 years old. That $80 worth of copper lines have more
than paid off in that time, and have made for $billions of profits.
You should at most only be paying $2 just for the "privilege" of
just billing you for that $2 and the maintenance of the copper
infrastructure.

But seeing as how it's hurricane territory, $3 would be fair enough.

-sw

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> >>
> >> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
> >>>
> >> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> >> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> >>
> > I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> > But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> > get long distance included in that price?
> >
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>
Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
and no internet service, either.

A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.

On 4/16/2021 8:28 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.

Trouble is call quality and VoIP reliability. You get what you pay for.
AT&T bills me about $40/mo after taxes for my land line, and TCI long
distance +1 calling is 5 cents per minute domestic and Canada. Overseas
rates are very reasonable. For about an hour of long distance per
month, including tax/fees, it costs me maybe $5 for long distance.
That's well worth the added cost for peace of mind and reliability.

On 4/16/2021 8:28 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>
> He's been getting ripped off for an extra $35/mo x 15+ years. It
> costs less to transmit 30 minutes of long distance phone
> conversation than it does to stream your local 6:PM newscast over
> your Internet connection (and both of those costs are $0). They use
> the same conduits, except for Gary's copper phone lines the first
> 600 yards - which is already installed and working. Then it just
> connects to the same SS7 networks as any other cell phone, VoIP, or
> landline and whoosh! - off it goes at the same $0 price. The $10
> pays for infrastructure only, and Gary's physical infrastructure is
> literally 50-60 years old. That $80 worth of copper lines have more
> than paid off in that time, and have made for $billions of profits.
> You should at most only be paying $2 just for the "privilege" of
> just billing you for that $2 and the maintenance of the copper
> infrastructure.
>
> But seeing as how it's hurricane territory, $3 would be fair enough.
>
> -sw

Thanks Steve (and all others) for your input. I'll figure out what is
best soonly.

On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>
>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>
>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>
> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> get long distance included in that price?

Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.

My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.

The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).

On 4/17/2021 8:16 AM, Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.
>
> My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
> Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
> since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.
>
> The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
> cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

If you have long distance through Verizon, they are ripping you off.
The carriers like Verizon, AT&T, etc change a boat-load for long
distance. Usually a $5 monthly fee, and tons of taxes to boot. If you
keep your land line, let me know, and I can recommend you to a much
cheaper long distance company that only charges $5 total if you use an
hour of outbound long distance, down to maybe a buck if you use nothing.

When I call long distance, I also ask people to call me back so I make
the call free... lol

On 2021-04-17 8:16 a.m., Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.


I get 500 minutes a month anywhere in Canada on my cell phone. My
landline is good for anywhere in Canads and IIRC 300 minutes to the US.
I am not a telephone chatter so I will never have to worry about going
over my time.


> The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
> cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).

The only long distance calls I make regularly are to my son. He lived in
Toronto for a few years and he never bothered to change his number when
he moved back this way.

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 7:17:00 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
> >
> > I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> > But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> > get long distance included in that price?
> >
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.
>
Oooooooh.

I have AT&T (American Thieves & Thugs) for phone and internet.
Long distance to most anywhere is included in that charge.
>
> My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
> Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
> since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.
>
Well, that's good. Then neither of you are worried about a super LARGE phone
bill the next month.

On 4/16/2021 10:32 AM, Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>
>> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
>> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
>> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>
>
>
>
>
>

I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
out. There is far cheaper than what you pay out there. Even MSN
unlimited is $15/mo when paid annually.

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 23:00:28 -0400, Michael Trew wrote:

> I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
> out.

Wait a second.....

You pay $45/mo for a land line ON TOP of what you pay already pay
for DSL over that same copper. PLUS a $5/mo extra for "backup
dial-up internet" - that also goes out through the same copper, plus
$5 for long distance - also copper?

And 5 minutes later you say that you enjoy "peace of mind and
reliability copper gives you">

You do know that if one goes out, THEY ALL GO OUT, right? When your
DSL goes out you also have no phone line to use your $5/mo "backup
dialup plan" either. No Phone. No Internet, No dialup. And no cell
phone (because cell phones don't charge $05/minute for domestic).
You could just to landline VoIP over your DSL and have the EXACT
SAME RELIABLITY! OMG! Dude, just get Vonage or something and screw
that $40/mo and the $5/backup plan.

DSL does not go out while phone service remains active - they both
go out at the same time! Your phone may have a dialtone, but it will
not dial out if DSL is also out.

-sw

On 4/17/2021 5:17 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 23:00:28 -0400, Michael Trew wrote:
>
>> I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
>> out.
>
> Wait a second.....
>
> You pay $45/mo for a land line ON TOP of what you pay already pay
> for DSL over that same copper. PLUS a $5/mo extra for "backup
> dial-up internet" - that also goes out through the same copper, plus
> $5 for long distance - also copper?
>
> And 5 minutes later you say that you enjoy "peace of mind and
> reliability copper gives you">
>
> You do know that if one goes out, THEY ALL GO OUT, right? When your
> DSL goes out you also have no phone line to use your $5/mo "backup
> dialup plan" either. No Phone. No Internet, No dialup. And no cell
> phone (because cell phones don't charge $05/minute for domestic).
> You could just to landline VoIP over your DSL and have the EXACT
> SAME RELIABLITY! OMG! Dude, just get Vonage or something and screw
> that $40/mo and the $5/backup plan.
>
> DSL does not go out while phone service remains active - they both
> go out at the same time! Your phone may have a dialtone, but it will
> not dial out if DSL is also out.
>
> -sw


Well, there's more to it than that. My DSL was actually out for 2 weeks
- first time I've ever had an outage - through this February. The
Internet icon was out. I spoke with people that work for AT&T off the
record and they said a piece of legacy equipment upstream from the DSLAM
failed, and they had to scrounge for parts to repair it, since the parts
are no longer made.

Anyway, the crappy dial up plan did work, and I've never been without a
dial tone. Also, to be fair, I use the dial up plan a few hours a month
to toy around with old computers. I have a 1994 Gateway2K sitting on my
desk, hooked up next to the computer that I'm currently using. It has
DOS 6.2/Windows 3.11 on it, and it's fun to fire it up from time to
time. I don't know any other way to get it on-line aside from that dial
up plan and the internal 28K modem. Again, it's for my amusement
purposes when I'm bored.

I do have a cell phone, and they also charge me 5 cents/min for calls.
The nice thing is that I'm only charged 5 cents/min - nothing more. I
use maybe $5/mo on that prepaid plan... good luck finding cheaper cell
service than that. It's a legacy plan through T-Mobile. Yes, I'm aware
that I could dump the long distance and just call long distance through
my cell, but I hate to use my cell. I like the quality and feel of the
old Western Electric handsets. My cell only goes on when I'm leaving my
house.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:25:59 AM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
> > Response to the real Bruce.
> >
> > Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> > My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
> >
> > If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> > with enough minutes to carry on normally.
> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> -sw

Or just Tracfone for about $120 for a full year with about 2G of data, for web browsing. LG is ending its cellphone business so smartphones should be cheap.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 2:21:47 AM UTC-10, Gary wrote:
> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.

You might want to check out the Motorola line of phones. They tend to be pretty cheap. I use mintmobile.com, and pay 27 bucks a month.
I'm looking for a phone to replace my Motorola G6. My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Unlocked.../dp/B08GL2HKLT

On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.

No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
financial info.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
> No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
> take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
> smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
> financial info.

These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks.
All I know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."

https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html

dsi1 wrote:

> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> > On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's
> > > capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC
> > > capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on
> > > cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
> > No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they
> > don't take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to
> > trust these smart phones and related companies like Google to have
> > access to my financial info.
>
> These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far
> as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger
> generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're
> pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's
> the breaks.

60+ people are very important to marketing people. They're a huge group
and they have a lot of spending money.

--
The real Dr. Bruce posts with uni-berlin.de - individual.net

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:17:44 PM UTC-10, Dr. Bruce wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
>
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> > > On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's
> > > > capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC
> > > > capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on
> > > > cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
> > > No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they
> > > don't take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to
> > > trust these smart phones and related companies like Google to have
> > > access to my financial info.
> >
> > These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far
> > as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger
> > generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're
> > pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's
> > the breaks.
> 60+ people are very important to marketing people. They're a huge group
> and they have a lot of spending money.
> --
> The real Dr. Bruce posts with uni-berlin.de - individual.net

I'd say that the exact opposite is true. Advertising to old folks are mostly for adult diapers, heart medicine, supplemental health insurance, funeral insurance, yadda, yadda, yadda. My guess is that majority of seniors don't have a lot of money to burn. You are correct that they are a huge group.

On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>> My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
>> No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
>> take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
>> smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
>> financial info.
>
> These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks.
> All I know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
>
> https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
>

You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul, I
guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I lost
my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling furniture,
antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked in all-cash
only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of places that
won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
dumped my debit card.

I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people like
me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few holdouts in
40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital currency, etc.

On 4/17/2021 7:14 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>> My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
>>> No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
>>> take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
>>> smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
>>> financial info.
>>
>> These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks.
>> All I know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
>>
>> https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
>>
>
> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul, I
> guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I lost
> my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling furniture,
> antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked in all-cash
> only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of places that
> won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
> dumped my debit card.
>
> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people like
> me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few holdouts in
> 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital currency, etc.
>


If I could get minimum 2% cash back for cash like I get on my credit
cards, I might be using cash more.

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> > > On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's
> > > > capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC
> > > > capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on
> > > > cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
> > > No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they
> > > don't take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to
> > > trust these smart phones and related companies like Google to
> > > have access to my financial info.
> >
> > These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as
> > far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger
> > generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're
> > pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned.
> > That's the breaks. All I know is that NFC capability will become
> > an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by
> > the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
> >
> >
https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
> >
>
> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul,
> I guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I
> lost my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling
> furniture, antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked
> in all-cash only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of
> places that won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally),
> I've dug in and dumped my debit card.
>
> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people
> like me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few
> holdouts in 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital
> currency, etc.


I've gone mostly cashless here except for handyman jobs. Have one on
the way over to replace a ceiling fan (lighting unit died, kit costs
mre than a new one) and another to fix a PVC pipe in the kitchen sink.
I use an occasional landscaper (gave him a working car in trade for
some basic stuff I can't do anymore). Car value was about 600$ and he
uses it as a work truck. Ford Expedition, 1997. He got his feet back
under himeself with it and now has a simpler get-about vehicle that
gets better milage for regular use.

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared...SFYO9AyHqcvS_4

There should be pictures of yard and trees.

Michael Trew wrote:
> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul, I
> guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I lost
> my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling furniture,
> antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked in all-cash
> only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of places that
> won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
> dumped my debit card.
>
> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people like
> me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few holdouts in
> 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital currency, etc.

You're only 26? I suspect you are the youngest poster here by far.
And you've already turned into an old stubborn fart.
Good for you! lol

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 4:14:40 AM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> >> On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> >>> My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
> >> No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
> >> take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
> >> smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
> >> financial info.
> >
> > These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks.
> > All I know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
> >
> > https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
> >
> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul, I
> guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I lost
> my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling furniture,
> antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked in all-cash
> only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of places that
> won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
> dumped my debit card.
>
> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people like
> me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few holdouts in
> 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital currency, etc.

Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH, that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see how cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also some paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day and age i.e., it's not easily tracked.

On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>
>
>

You couldn't convince me enough to drop my land line. It's worth every
penny of the ~$40 I pay for it monthly. Real land lines work when the
power goes out. I've lost cell service in outages and still have a dial
tone. Rotary dial western electric phone on my kitchen wall still rings
no matter what. The call quality of a cell won't match up either.

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
> > Response to the real Bruce.
> >
> > Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> > My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd
> > phone.
> >
> > If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart
> > phone with enough minutes to carry on normally.
> >
> >
> >
>
> You couldn't convince me enough to drop my land line. It's worth
> every penny of the ~$40 I pay for it monthly. Real land lines work
> when the power goes out. I've lost cell service in outages and still
> have a dial tone. Rotary dial western electric phone on my kitchen
> wall still rings no matter what. The call quality of a cell won't
> match up either.

Finally something that's more expensive in the US than in Australia.

--
The real Dr. Bruce posts with uni-berlin.de - individual.net

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
> > Response to the real Bruce.
> >
> > Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> > My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd
> > phone.
> >
> > If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart
> > phone with enough minutes to carry on normally.
> >
> >
> >
>
> You couldn't convince me enough to drop my land line. It's worth
> every penny of the ~$40 I pay for it monthly. Real land lines work
> when the power goes out. I've lost cell service in outages and still
> have a dial tone. Rotary dial western electric phone on my kitchen
> wall still rings no matter what. The call quality of a cell won't
> match up either.

And it costs a HUGE amount to add a real landline back in. More like
120$ a month here.

On 4/16/2021 11:54 PM, cshenk wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:
>
>> On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd
>>> phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart
>>> phone with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> You couldn't convince me enough to drop my land line. It's worth
>> every penny of the ~$40 I pay for it monthly. Real land lines work
>> when the power goes out. I've lost cell service in outages and still
>> have a dial tone. Rotary dial western electric phone on my kitchen
>> wall still rings no matter what. The call quality of a cell won't
>> match up either.
>
> And it costs a HUGE amount to add a real landline back in. More like
> 120$ a month here.

Holy cow, where do you live? My phone was $33/mo in 2015. Somehow it's
crept up to $40 in 2021.

I stand corrected. $120/mo would be enough to convince me to drop the
land line... haha. If it goes over $50 in a few years, I quit. That's
just not worth it. I suspect this is AT&T's way of getting out of the
copper business.

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 11:54 PM, cshenk wrote:
> > Michael Trew wrote:
> >
> > > On 4/16/2021 8:21 AM, Gary wrote:
> > > > Response to the real Bruce.
> > > >
> > > > Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> > > > My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a
> > > > 2nd phone.
> > > >
> > > > If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart
> > > > phone with enough minutes to carry on normally.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > You couldn't convince me enough to drop my land line. It's worth
> > > every penny of the ~$40 I pay for it monthly. Real land lines
> > > work when the power goes out. I've lost cell service in outages
> > > and still have a dial tone. Rotary dial western electric phone
> > > on my kitchen wall still rings no matter what. The call quality
> > > of a cell won't match up either.
> >
> > And it costs a HUGE amount to add a real landline back in. More
> > like 120$ a month here.
>
> Holy cow, where do you live? My phone was $33/mo in 2015. Somehow
> it's crept up to $40 in 2021.
>
> I stand corrected. $120/mo would be enough to convince me to drop
> the land line... haha. If it goes over $50 in a few years, I quit.
> That's just not worth it. I suspect this is AT&T's way of getting
> out of the copper business.

Whups! Sorry, mis-post. It's 145$ to get the line installed, then
something like 60$ a month (not counting any LD out of country).